The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ From the Cross
And the Fourth Cup
On the cross Jesus utters seven short phrases. To find all seven, you must read all four gospels since none of the evangelists record all seven phrases. And it is the fifth and sixth utterances of Jesus where I found my answer to the fourth cup missing from the Last Supper.
A model of compassion, Jesus forgives his executioners, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Jesus opens the gates of heaven to the good thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42)
In the gospel of John, Jesus gives John, who represents all Christians, his mother. We all become the spiritual children of Our Blessed Mother Mary. “When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
In Matthew and Mark the words of Jesus are recorded in his usual dialect, Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? These are the words of Psalm 22:1 a psalm of lament.
When Jesus arrived at Golgotha, before he was crucified, it is recorded that he was offered “wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it.” (Mark 15:23) Jesus still has not drunk the fourth cup. The time had not arrived. But now in order to fulfill scripture, as Jesus hung on the cross “knowing that all was now finished [he] said, “I thirst.” (John 19:28) Is it possible that Jesus after all that he has endured on the way of the cross and his crucifixion has not thirsted until now? At this point in his suffering, his lungs are filling with liquid and he is slowly, excruciatingly suffocating, unable to get even a shallow breath, still he speaks in order to fulfill scripture.
It is recorded that a sponge was filled with wine vinegar and placed on a hyssop branch and held to his mouth. (John 19:29, Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36) Hyssop, the same kind of branch that was commanded in Exodus 12:22 to be used by the Israelites when applying the blood of the lamb to the lintel and two doorposts. The Israelites had to mark three parts of their door with blood to be spared from death. Jesus The Lamb of God was nailed to the cross with three nails to spare us from death. When the vinegar wine was lifted up to him on a hyssop branch, Jesus drank from the fourth cup. The Passover Meal was consummated, finished and completed.
Once Jesus had received the wine vinegar, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) Jesus has just closed the Passover Meal he began Thursday night. The meal is completed. Well, actually this time the Passover Meal of the old covenant has been fulfilled, now we begin a new covenant with the Lamb of God offered as the perfect sacrifice. “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20)
“Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46)
The Last Supper celebration of Passover and Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary and the Holy Eucharist are all one piece. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who is Jesus, begins in the upper room at the Passover Meal. At the Passover Meal Jesus instituted the new Covenant in his own blood which ended at Calvary. In other words, this sacrifice Jesus began in the upper room is the institution of the Eucharist which ended at Calvary. But actually it is not over.
The sacrifice that Jesus instituted is perpetual and continues to this day in heaven, where he appears as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” (Revelation 5:6) There is no time with God in heaven, and that is good news. We are still in need of this saving act of Jesus. All of these events, Passover and Calvary, are present to us now at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is celebrated as a memorial done in remembrance of Jesus, every few seconds every day, all over the world, in many different languages.
God’s ultimate goal is to restore “communion” with us, to establish a relationship, a fellowship with his creation, us. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil [vice], but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth [virtue].” We are to celebrate the festival by eating the Lamb just as the Hebrew people were commanded to eat the lamb. Where do we eat the Lamb? At the Eucharistic Table, in Communion, at Mass.
So this sacrifice continues in Heaven as Jesus offers Himself perpetually to the Father for our salvation. Since God wishes no one to be lost, this will continue until all of God’s creations have been given ample, patient opportunity to Ask, Seek and Knock. (Matthew 7:7-8)
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch" (Pesach in Hebrew). (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1323 - 1324)
The Eucharist celebrated at each Catholic Mass is an extension of the fulfillment of the feast of the Passover, Jesus is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29,36) Jesus has replaced the sacrificial lamb of the Old Testament. "Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb."
For another explination of the Eucharist as an extension of the fulfillment of the feast of Passover see Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio of The Crossroads Initiative essay, Holy Thursday The Eucharist: The Body of Christ?
Soon it will be Easter Sunday
Come Lord Jesus,
send us your mercy,
renew the face of the earth.
Today, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross is a devotion to the Sacred Passion, in which we accompany, in spirit, our Blessed Lord in His sorrowful journey from the house of Pilate to Calvary, and meditate on His sufferings and death.
Before each Station say: We adore You O Christ, and we bless You. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeamed the world.
After each Station say: One Our Father, One Hail Mary, One Glory Be
Station One Jesus is Condemnded to Death
Consider how Jesus, innocent and without sin, after having been sourged and crowned with thorns, was condemned by the crowds with the words "Crucify him!: (Luke 23:21)
Station Two Jesus Accepts His Cross Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross and the weight of all our sins on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered to His Father, for us, the death He was about to undergo.
Station Three Jesus Falls the First Time
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross, His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great amount of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarecely walk and yet he carried this great load upon His shoulders.
Station Four Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother Consider the meeting of Jesus and His Mother on the way of the Cross. She surely would have been there following His every step.
Station Five Simon Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross
Consider walking as Simon did carrying the Cross behind Our Lord. (Luke 23:26)
Station Six Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus Consider how the holy woman Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His face. In a tender exchange, Jesus leaves the impression of His Holy Face on Veronica's cloth. A promise of the unfailing comfort of Jesus during our times of trial.
Station Seven Jesus Falls a Second Time
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross - a fall that renews the pain of all the wounds, the wounds Jesus bears for our salvation.
Station Eight Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
Consider how the women of Jerusalem who met Jesus on the way of the Cross wept with compassion at seeing Him in such a pitiable state. But Jesus said to them: "daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, "Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed." (Luke 24: 28-29)
Station Nine Jesus Falls the Third Time Consider the third fall of Jesus, His body so weak, His is forced to continue His way of the Cross under the extreem cruelty of His executioners.
Station Ten Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Consider the pain inflicted on Jesus as His garments wet and sticking to his body tore at His flesh as the soldiers stripped Him;
Station Eleven Jesus is Nailed to the Cross Consider Jesus, arms stretched out, offering Himself on the Cross, the Lamb of God, as the eternal sacrifice to the Father. "He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
Station Twelve Jesus Dies on the Cross
Consider how after three hours of agony on the Cross, Jesus bows His head and gives up His Spirit. (Luke 24:46)
Station Thirteen Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Consider how, after the death of our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows.
Station Fourteen Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Consider how the disciples carred the body of Jesus to be buried, accompanied by His Mother who arrainged the body of her son in the sepulcher. Then the stone was rolled and the tomb was closed.
The Jewish Passover
and the
Catholic Eucharist
Part 3
Holy Thursday Evening
The Garden of Gethsemane
After interrupting the Passover celebration before the fourth cup of wine, Jesus and his disciples make their way to the garden of Gethsemane. He asked his disciples to stay and pray while he went further into the garden. Then, all three synoptic gospels record, Jesus fell on his face in prayer saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35-36, Luke 22:42)
What is this cup? Is it possible that Jesus is referring to the fourth cup, the cup of consummation, of fulfillment of the Passover? Some have said that this cup refers to the cup of God’s wrath that God’s suffering servant, the Messiah must drink. But at the Last Supper just a few hours earlier Jesus said “I shall not drink again of this fruit of the wine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
Jesus returns to his disciples, finding them asleep, reminds them to “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Returning again to his spot further in the garden, Jesus prays, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42, Mark 14:39) And finally he prayed “for the third time, saying the same words.” (Matthew 26:44) Finally Jesus returns to his disciples for the third time and says, “Behold, the hour is at hand.” (Matthew 26:45) Three times Jesus asks his Father to take away this cup and three times Jesus says, not my will but yours [Father] be done.
At this time Judas enters the garden leading a crowd “with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.” (Matthew26:41) Betrayed with a kiss (Mark 14:45), Jesus was arrested, and his disciples fled in fear (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50)
Tonight after the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper there will be a Eucharistic procession and the Blessed Sacrament will be removed from the tabernacle to a repository where is will be reserved until the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and Death, on Good Friday tomorrow afternoon. There will be emptiness when we return to our churches tomorrow. The altar will be stripped and the tabernacle will be open and empty.
Sin entered the world by an act in a garden.
The sin of this world (my sin and yours)
will be covered by an act in a garden.
Come Lord Jesus
The Jewish Passover
and the
Catholic Eucharist Part 4
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Old Posts
The Jewish Passover and the Catholic Eucharist Part 1
The Jewish Passover and the Catholic Eucharist
Part 2
Jewish Passover
and the
Catholic Eucharist
Part Two
Holy Thursday: The Last Supper: The Eucharist
April 1, 2010
April 21, 2011
April 5, 2012 March 28, 2013 April 17, 2014 April 2, 2015 March 24, 2016 April 13, 2017 April 29, 2018 April 18, 2019 April 9, 2020 April 1, 2021 April 6, 2023
I have read these gospel passages of the Last Supper many times, but after studying the Pesach I read the gospel with a different insight. I noticed something about the Last Supper meal that I never paid attention to before, the relevance of the four cups of wine.
On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus and His Apostles will celebrate the Passover Meal. But it will be different than any other Passover. As Jesus said, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16)
Dr. Scott Hahn does an amazing job of explaining the relevance of the four cups of wine consumed during the Passover meal and why Jesus and the Apostles on the night of the Last Supper left the Passover meal before consuming the 4th cup.
The rest of this blog post is sparked by my obsessive compulsive nature. It is my research on the four cups of wine, the Passover meal and my Catholic faith.
The Preparation
“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7-8) It is clear that the Spring Feasts of Passover (Exodus 12-13; Lev 23:4-5 Num 28:16; Deut 16:1-7) and of Unleavened Bread, the seven days following Passover (Exodus 12-13; Lev 23:6-8; Num 28:17-25; Deut 16:8) were very important to Jesus and his disciples.
In the time of Jesus, the unblemished lamb for the Passover meal was sacrificed in the temple of Jerusalem and the meal took place in someone’s home. Time consuming preparations had to be made. The home had to be free of leaven, side dishes had to be prepared, along with bitter herbs, unleavened bread and four goblets of wine mixed with water had to be available for all who would be present.
Jesus sent Peter and John in to Jerusalem where they would meet “a man carrying a jar of water…[they were to] follow him into the house which he enters.” (Luke 22:10, Mark 14:13) Luke goes on to describe this place as a large upper room that was furnished. It was this place the disciples were to prepare for the Passover meal.
The First Cup of Wine: Sanctification
From my study of the Passover meal, I knew that four cups of wine would be consumed in a traditional order. The first cup, of sanctification and blessing would be poured at the beginning of the celebration, before the washing of the hands and dipping of the bitter herbs. I found no mention of this cup in any of the four gospels, but knew that it must have been consumed before the commencing the celebration.
The Washing of the Feet
John’s Gospel is the only Gospel to record Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, a service normally performed by slaves. Peter does not understand, at first, why Jesus would humble himself this way. Jesus models for his disciples that he “came not to be served but to serve,” and that this service consisted of “[giving] his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
“When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?...If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12-15) Jesus’ entire life was an example of doing for others and service. Furthermore the Lord promises us that if we imitate him we will be blessed. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Bitterness and Betrayal
“When in the evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me…..He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me.” (Matthew 26:20-23; Mark 14:17-20) “Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Is it I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:25)
The Four Questions
Just as it is a tradition for the eldest or leader at the Passover meal to answer four questions explaining how Moses led his people out of Egypt to the Promised Land, the Gospel of John shows four of Jesus’ disciples asking him questions about salvation and eternal life.
The first question came from Simon Peter, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward.” (John 13:36)
The second question from Thomas, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:5-6)
The third question was asked by Philip, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?” (John 14:8-10)
The fourth question is from Judas (not Iscariot), “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:22-23)
The Second Cup of Wine: The Cup of Judgment
The people who wrote the Gospels knew the ritual of the Passover Meal. Again I did not find this cup mentioned but I know it was poured right before the tenth plague was announced during the maggid, or telling of the Exodus story. Then Psalm 112 and 113 the Little Hallel would be sung and the cup of wine consumed. This would all be done before proceeding to the main meal.
The Seder Meal
In the Gospel and Matthew and Mark we jump right from the preparation to “While they were eating.” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22) From my new understanding of the Passover meal this would mean that they had already drunk the first and second cup of wine, recited the story of Exodus and sang the Hallel Psalms 112 and 113.
The Gospel of Luke is similar proceeding straight from the preparation to the cryptic words Jesus spoke as “he sat at table,” “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15)
The Third Cup: The Cup of Blessing
Once the meal is concluded a third cup of wine was poured, grace after the meal recited and the cup consumed in a reclining position followed by the singing of the Great Hallel Psalms 114-118. But this night it was different, Jesus made some startling changes in the traditional Passover. It was at this moment that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist which would serve as a memorial of Christ’s Passover.
Just as the Exodus events were made real and present to the Jews every time they participated in the Passover meal, the sacrifice that Jesus was about to endure for us at the Crucifixion, would be made real and present every time Eucharist was celebrated at the Holy Mass.
Institution of the Eucharist from Matthew and Mark
“Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26)
Institution of the Eucharist from Luke
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:15-20)
After the drinking of the third cup a fourth cup would be poured and consumed signifying the climax of the Passover, bringing it to completion. But this Passover is clearly different, after they drink the third cup of blessing, Matthew and Mark record that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Did they forget to drink the fourth cup? It would be like a priest skipping over the words of consecration at Mass.
Looking at the passage from Matthew and Mark when Jesus says “I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom,” (Matthew 26:29) has Jesus consciously omitted drinking the fourth cup and still completed the Passover meal? Or is it that this Passover meal, Jesus' Last Supper is still to be completed?
Why would a Gentile study the roots and tradition of the Jewish Passover? Because, Jesus, a devout Jew and Rabbi, celebrated His Last Supper at a traditional Passover meal, and His death fulfilled the old covenant, where He became the perfect sacrifice for the new and everlasting covenant.
Holy Week is a good time to learn more about the Jewish roots of my Catholic faith. The following is my best Gentile understanding of a Jewish Passover. I apologize for any errors, I have much to learn.
Dr. Brant Pitre has also put together a wonderful video on this subject. You may view it below.
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Passover Plate Spain c. 1480
The Pesach: Passover Seder
Jewish Year 5770: sunset March 29
- nightfall April 6, 2010
Jewish Year 5771: sunset April 18
- nightfall April 26, 2011
Jewish Year 5772: sunset April 6
- nightfall April 14, 2012 Jewish Year 5773: sunset March 25 - nightfall April 1, 2013 Jewish Year 5774: sunset April 14, 2014 - nightfall April 22, 2014 Jewish Year 5775: Sunset April 3, 2015 - Nightfall April 11, 2015 Jewish Year 5776: Sunset April 22, 2016 - Nightfall April 30, 2016 Jewish Year 5777: Sunset April 10, 2017 - Nightfall April 18, 2017 Jewish Year 5778: Sunset March 30, 2018 - Nightfall April 7, 2018 Jewish Year 5779: Sunset April 19, 2019 -Nightfall April 27, 2019 Jewish Year 5780: Sunset April 8, 2020 - Nightfall April 16, 2020
Jewish Year 5781: Sunset March 27, 2021 - Nightfall April 3, 2021 Jewish Year 5782: Sunset April 15, 2022 -Nightfall April 23, 2022 Jewish Year 5783: Sunset April 5, 2023 -Nightfall April 13, 2023 Jewish Year 5784: Sunset April 22, 2024 -Nightfall April 30, 2024 Jewish Year 5785: Sunset April 12, 2025 - Nightfall April 20, 2025
Pesach means to pass through or pass over, referring to the time when God “passed over” and spared the first born of the Jews, it is also the name given to the sacrificial lamb offered at the Temple during this feast in the Old Testament. Passover is a memorial feast commanded by God to be celebrated [yearly] as a perpetual institution. (Exodus 12:14) Passover spiritually brings the Jewish people back to participate in the First Passover: "In every generation a man must so regard himself as if he came forth himself out of Egypt, for it is written (Exodus 13:8). Therefore we are bound to give thanks..." (Mishnah Pesahim 10)
The Preparation
A few days before the Passover feast is celebrated the house is purified of all leaven; anything with yeast. For those who do this right, it means scrubbing everything in your kitchen from stove, refrigerator, dishes and shelves with a brush and feather. This enormous task of cleaning and removing all signs of leaven symbolizes removing sin from our lives.
On the fourteenth of Nisan, if the first born son of the family is above thirteen, he is to fast in memory of the deliverance of the first born of the Israelites from the angel of death. That evening the men of the family attend synagogue before returning home for the Seder meal.
The Seder
The “instruction manual” or steps for this meal is contained in the Haggadah which basically means “the telling.” It is called the telling because, after the Seder meal is over you will have been told and you will be expected to tell others, to pass the story on, so that no one ever forgets.
Blessing of the Festival Candles
The oldest women of the family will light the candles at the beautifully set table and pronounce a blessing in Hebrew which translates to “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe who has made us holy by the Law, and has commanded us to kindle the festival lights.”
The Seder Plate
This is a special plate that contains six symbolic foods that will be used during the meal. Each of the six items arranged on the plate have a special significance to the retelling of the maggid or story of the Exodus from Egypt. The six items on the plate are:
Maror and Chazeret: two types of bitter herbs such as horseradish and romaine lettuce
Charoset: a blending of apples, raisins, and honey to represent mortar
Karpas: vegetable other than the bitter herb usually parsley
Zeroah: roasted lamb bone symbolizing the sacrifice
Beitzah: roasted egg
The First Cup: Sanctification During the Seder four cups of wine will be poured. Each cup will have its own name and meaning.
The first cup of wine, the cup of Sanctification, is poured. The oldest male of the family lifts their glass and pronounces a blessing in Hebrew which translates to “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the vine.” This cup reminds the Jewish people that they are sanctified, are holy and set apart.
The Washing of the Hands
The oldest man then washes his hands three times in honor of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in preparation for the eating of the karpas, or parsley.
The Story (Maggid)
Now the maggid or story begins. This is the retelling of the Exodus story, the flight from Egypt following the first Passover. It is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of sons: the wise one, who wants all the details; the wicked one, who is uninterested; the simple one, who needs know only the basics; and the one unable to ask. This story is intertwined with the four questions, the theme of which is, “Why is it different?” These questions are traditionally asked to the young children at the Seder in an effort to arouse interest and curiosity while teaching ritual and history. To make this clearer for my readers and myself (mostly myself), I will discuss the four questions first and then go on to the story of Exodus.
The Four Questions
The first question is “On all other nights we eat normal bread, on this night why do we eat only matzah”? Because this, the bread of affliction, the poor man’s bread was baked in a hurry, there was no time for the leaven to rise, because the Israelites were on the run. After this question the eldest male takes three pieces of matzah from the Seder plate, which represent Abraham, Issac and Jacob, he takes the middle piece of matzah, breaks it, wraps one half and hides it. This hidden piece is called the Afikomen and it reminds us that Moses was sent down the Nile and hidden. Then everyone takes a piece of matzah and a blessing is said “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth let us eat a piece of matzah."
The second is “On all other nights we eat all other vegetables why tonight do we eat only bitter herbs?” Because this reminds us that for a time the Israelites were slaves and were forced to do hard labor, suffering bitterly. Everyone takes a piece of bitter vegetable from the Seder plate, dips it in salt water (representing tears shed as a result of slavery) and eats. The blessing is said, “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe who has set us apart by His word and commanded us to eat bitter herbs.”
The third question is “On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once yet tonight why do we dip them twice? Because from the tears of the faithful and the prayers of His people, God listens, and in His mercy rains down blessings on His people. Now everyone takes a piece of the bitter herbs, and dips it into the Chazeret, a sweet mixture of apples, honey, raisins that when mashed together resembles the mortar the Israelites used to make bricks without straw for the Pharaoh. This symbolizes the sweetness and bitterness of God’s people.
The fourth question is “On all other nights we eat sitting, but tonight we eat reclining, why is this so? Because the Israelites on the night of the first Passover ate standing ready to flee, tonight in honor of Moses and his people and the freedom that they brought us by God’s intercession, we eat reclining and take the rest that they could not.
The Story
(My “short” paraphrase of Exodus 1:8-12:50
– come on it is 12 Chapters I did the best I could)
The Passover story of the exodus from Egypt is a commandment that must be performed on the eve of Passover. (Exodus13:8-10) And so we begin….Pharaoh looked around Egypt and thought, there are too many Jews. If they continue to reproduce at this rate, they will outnumber us and overtake us.”Look how numerous and powerful the Israelite people are growing, more so than we ourselves! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us.” (Ex 1:9-10)
Pharaoh decided that every Jewish boy that was born was to be put to death. He commanded that all midwifes and nurses kill any males they delivered. Infanticide had begun. “When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women and see them giving birth, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she may live.” (Ex 1:16)
Moses was born and his mother hid him for three months after which fearing for his safety, she “took a papyrus basket, daubed it with bitumen and pitch, and putting the child in it, placed it among the reeds on the river bank.” (Ex 2:3) She left his sister to watch what would happen to him.
As providence would have it, the Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile to bathe and discovered the basket with Moses and took pity on him. She asked for a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, and unknown to the Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses’ own mother was summoned, to nurse him. Eventually the Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him as her own and he was named Moses, “for she said, I drew him out of the water.” (Ex 2:10)
Now Moses grows into a man and witnesses an Egyptian striking a Hebrew laborer. This did not sit well with Moses and he killed the Egyptian man and hid him. In guilt and fear for his own life he fled to the land of Midian where he defended some women drawing water for their father’s flock. The women returned to their father and recounted the story leading to him to invite Moses to live with them. “Moses agreed to live with him, and the man gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage.” (Ex 2:21)
“A long time passed, during which the king of Egypt died. Still the Israelites groaned and cried out because of slavery. As their cry for release went up to God, he heard their groaning and was mindful of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Ex 2:23-24)
God called out to Moses while he tended the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, from a burning bush. “When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father…the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob…..I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry…so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey….Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:4-10)
Whoa, wait, no way, I just fled Egypt because I killed a man. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Ex 3:11) God explained that He would be with him and that Moses was to tell the people that “I AM sent me to you.” (Ex 3:14) God asked Moses to tell the king of Egypt, “The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word. Permit us, then, to go a three days journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the Lord, our God.” (Ex. 3:18)
Still not quite convinced Moses asks God, “Suppose they will not believe me?” (Ex 4:1) Then the Lord gave Moses a sign with his staff that when thrown to the ground would become a serpent. And his hand when pressed to his breast would become leprous. The Lord told Moses that if the Pharaoh would not believe him after those two signs he was to take water from the Nile and pour it on the dry land where it would become blood.
Moses still protested saying that he was not eloquent, and asked please put someone else up to the task. So God says, okay Aaron your brother will do the talking for you in fact he is on his way to meet you. “You are to speak to him, then, and put the words in his mouth. I will assist both you and him in speaking and will teach the two of you what you are to do.” (Ex 4:15-16) With God’s assurance that Moses was to return to Egypt safely, he took his wife and sons and went back to Egypt. Though God warned him that Pharaoh would be obstinate so Moses was to say, “Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, my first-born.” (Ex 4:23)
Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and say “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert.” (Ex 5:1) Pharaoh was not happy about letting the Hebrew people off work for three days so he made the Israelites job harder by withholding some of the material they needed to make bricks for his buildings. “Thus says Pharaoh: I will not provide you with straw. Go and gather the straw yourselves, wherever you can find it. Yet there must not be the slightest reduction in your work.” (Ex 5:10-11)
Time went by and the Lord came to Moses again and requested that he “Go and tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the Israelites leave his land.” (Ex 6:10) But Moses protested saying that he was a poor speaker and whenever he asked Pharaoh something, Pharaoh would make the lives of the Israelites harder. The Lord said, “Your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave his land. Yet I will make Pharaoh so obstinate. “(Ex 7:2-3)
So Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh, who requested that they show him a sign. Obliging, Aaron changed his staff into a snake. Not to be outdone, Pharaoh commanded his sorcerers to do likewise. Which they did, but Aaron’s snake ate all of the sorcerer’s snakes, and Pharaoh remained obstinate.
The Ten Plagues (Ex 7:14-10:28)
The maggid culminates with the ten plagues God finally sends to Egypt. Each plague punishes a god of the Egyptians. As each plague is named, each person dips their finger into their cup of wine and wipes the drop on their plate. Symbolizing the spilling of a drop of blood for each plague.
Dam (Blood) All the water in Egypt was changed to blood Tzfardeyah (Frogs) An infestation of frogs sprang up in Egypt Kinim (Lice) Egypt was afflicted by lice Arov (Swarms of Flies) An infestation of flies sprang up in Egypt Dever (Blight or pestilence) Killed of all Egyptian livestock Shichin (Boils) The Egyptians were afflicted by an epidemic of boils Barad (Hail) Large heavy hail rained down on Egypt Areh (Locusts) Swarms destroy crops in Egypt Choshech (Darkness) Egypt is covered in darkness
The Second Cup: Judgment
Right before the tenth plague is announced the second cup of wine, the cup of judgment is poured, for God is about to rescue His people from slavery with a mighty act of judgment.
Makat B’chorot (Slaying of the First-Born) Moses then said, “Thus says the Lord: At midnight I will go forth through Egypt. Every first-born in this land shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh on the throne to the first-born of the slave-girl at the hand mill, as well as all the first-born of the animals.” (Ex 11:4-5)
To protect the Israelites from the tenth plague, God gave Moses the details of the first Passover ritual, and commanded that they make this a perpetual institution on this day every year. “On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb…The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish….You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight….They shall take some of its blood and apply it [with a bunch of hyssop Ex 12:22] to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb…That same night they shall eat it roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs….This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the Lord. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first-born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt – I, the Lord!” (Exodus 12:2-12)
After midnight, the night of the tenth plague Pharaoh arose to the sounds of wailing and found the first born of all Egyptians dead just as predicted. Finally Pharaoh tells Moses “Leave my people at once, you and the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you said.” (Ex 12:30-31) And the Israelites set out.
As the maggid concludes everyone drinks the second cup of wine and sings the first part of the Hallel or Psalms 112 and 113.
The Main Dinner (Shulchan Orekh)
Finally the main dinner meal is eaten. There is no particular requirement regarding what should be eaten but there can be no leaven. It may begin with the hard-boiled egg that is on the Seder plate. Eggs represent new life, as the Israelites are now free from slavery. After the meal the Afikoman which was hidden earlier is discovered symbolizing that Moses who was hidden has come forth and redeemed his people. This is the last food that is eaten at the Seder.
The Third Cup: The Cup of Blessing
The third cup of wine is poured and the Grace after Meals is recited. The cup is consumed in the reclining position. Then the great Hallel psalms 114 – 118 are sung.
The Fourth Cup: The Cup of Praise
The fourth cup of wine is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah a foreshadowing of his future arrival at the end of days will announce the arrival of the Messiah. At this time a young child may come forward and open the front door of the house symbolizing letting the prophet Elijah in. Everyone holds up the fourth cup of wine, and a blessing is announced “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” Then all drink the fourth cup of wine which is the climax of the Passover.
All say, Next year in Jerusalem!
The Passover is finished it is complete, now you have been told and now you must tell others.
The Jewish Passover and the Catholic Eucharist Part 2
“What could be more just than that you should serve him by whom you were created, without whom you cannot exist; and what could be more blessed or more sublime than to serve him? To serve him is to reign. “I will not serve,” man says to his Creator. “Then I will serve you,” his Creator says to man. “You sit down, I will minister, I will wash your feet. You rest; I will bear your weariness, your infirmities. Use me as you like in all your needs ....” Blessed Guerric of Igny
Palm Sunday
Liturgical Year A 2011, 2014, 2017 (Matthew 26:14-27:66)
Liturgical Year B 2012, 2015 ( Mark 14:1-15:47) Liturgical Year C 2010, 2013 (Luke 22:14-23:56)
It was nearing the Feast of Passover when large crowds of pilgrims swelled the population of Jerusalem from a city of 60,000 to 300,000. The leaders of the Jews and the Romans were on edge, the time was ripe for rebellion. It was the 10th of Nisan, the day the every Jewish family “must procure for itself a lamb”… “without blemish” (Exodus 12:3,5) in accordance with God’s command to keep a memorial feast, “which all your generations shall celebrate”… “as a perpetual institution,” (Exodus 12:14) Jesus triumphantly enters into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives riding on a donkey, as prophesied by Zachariah 9:9 in 520 B.C.
The promised Messiah, Jesus, the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” as proclaimed by John the Baptist (John 1:29), unbeknown to the crowd of His ultimate purpose, presents Himself for inspection, just as the other lambs were inspected that day in preparation for their sacrificial slaughter on the 14th of Nisan. (Exodus 12:3-6)
The crowd sings praise, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:38) The Pharisees ask Jesus to silence the crowd. Jesus says in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out.”
Sadly the crowds will prove fickle and before the week has passed almost all his followers will have deserted him. In a week’s time victory will have been purchased at a great price.
Blessings to all today, Palm Sunday, as we enter Holy Week. A week where we will celebrate the Last Supper, Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, death and finally His resurrection a week from today on Easter Sunday.
Without the Cross, there is no Crown. Without Good Friday, there is no Easter Sunday. Thank you Heavenly Father for the sacrifice of your sinless Son, for my sinful self.
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